Super trawlers are
creating havoc in the oceans and killing flora and fauna
indiscriminately and irresponsibly. Fortunately, one of these
super trawlers, the FV Abel Tasman, is now banned from fishing in
Australian waters for up to two years until more scientific
assessments of its environmental impact are carried out. The vessel's
nets are capable of encircling 13 jumbo jets!!

Fish populations are at an
all-time low due to the increasing demand for fish destined to feed
humans and livestock. In fact, cattle are the largest ocean predators
nowadays. According to scientific studies, if current fishing trends
continue, by 2048 all fish would be in collapse.

We
have to remember that our choices have consequences and that when we
sow devastation we reap devastation. Since eating fish is not
necessary in order to live healthy lives, it only makes sense to stop
supporting the fishing industry and those industries that benefit from
it.

Renowned movie director James
Cameron shared in an exclusive interview his reasons for adopting a
vegan diet. He said, “... all of human consciousness is five years old
emotionally. It’s not a requirement to eat animals, we just choose to
do it, so it becomes a moral choice and one that is having a huge
impact on the planet, using up resources and destroying the
biosphere.”

James Cameron is right on! It
is a moral imperative to transition to a plant-based diet and I also
believe it is spiritually crucial as well. Eating God’s animals
deadens our compassion and empathy, and skews our sense of justice and
what we consider a peaceful world. Indeed, we will not experience
peace unless we live in harmony with all our fellow beings, humans or
not.

We are afflicted in every way, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death
for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our
mortal flesh.

We are surrounded by suffering, but we also
have hope in the living legacy of Jesus Christ. His teachings of
compassion, mercy, love and justice dwell in each and every one of us,
which helps us during times of adversity and persecution when we
expose victimization and when we speak the Gospel of love and kindness
to the world.

A new study led by scientists from the University of California in
Riverside has shown that burgers may be more harmful to air quality
than 18-wheelers. According to the principal development engineer for
the study, Bill Welch, “Emissions from commercial char-broilers are a
very significant uncontrolled source of particulate matter…more than
twice the contribution by all of the heavy-duty diesel trucks.”

This is just one more reason to give up hamburgers, unless
they are veggie burgers. Planet Earth is our only home and we have the
privilege and responsibility to take care of it so we, and the
generations to come along with the rest of God’s creatures, may live
healthy, peaceful and joyful lives.